6/4/09

When bluebirds fly over 4 leaf clover YOU'LL FIND A PIANO SALESMAN


This card was purchased at an estate sale. Inconsequential in appearance. Definitely tattered and lost. It's also odd. I'm not sure what the illustration is supposed to mean. Obviously it's a woman thinking about writing a note to a friend, "Thinking of you" or perhaps "Why haven't you written?" But then we get the bluebirds of happiness flying against her window and the big four leaf clover balls hovering in the air. HUH?

Krakauer Piano postcard_tatteredandlost
Click on image to see it larger.

So you turn the card over and it gets weirder. It was an ad for a piano salesman! And apparently at some point a child got hold of the card and wrote a little message to "Edna" that is almost unreadable. I will not attempt to translate because there are a few words there that...well...I'd just rather not take a guess lest I offend someone.

Krakauer Piano card_tatteredandlost
Click on image to see it larger.

I cannot find anything specifically about Michael & St. John Pianos but perhaps Mr. St. John was related to Joseph H. St. John mentioned on this page.

As to Krakauer Pianos I found the following:
Manufacturers of Krakauer Bros. grand, upright, console and spinet pianos. In the course of their long and successful career Krakauer Bros. have been a family concern and never allied with combinations outside the organization. This house was founded in 1869 by Simon Krakauer, an excellent musician, who came to America in 1853 with his son David.
The manufacture of Krakauer pianos is entirely confined to one high grade quality-the Krakauer piano-which is available in a wide variety of attractive designs in Grand and Vertical models. For many years the Krakauer is noted for exceptionally artistic and uniquely attractive case designs, durable constru~tion, and an exceptionally rich tonal quality. They have successfully pioneered the patented closed back construction which permits the piano to be placed anywhere in the room like a grand piano and without the necessity of placing it with its back to the wall. One of the most successful models in this design is the Krakauer "Serenade" which because it can be faced out in a room like a grand piano has a "grand like" free flowing quality of tone. Most of their spinet pianos also contain the exclusive Acoustic Tone Chambers which strikingly re-enforce and enhance the tone.
The Krakauer line is definitely a "Decorator" line of styling. Every model is authentic in its derivation and is not just a conglomeration of senseless frills. All this is based upon the close attention of the "one family" element in the organization, with an honest and intimate interest in every piano made. Krakauer Bros have no mass-production. A unique, exclusive feature of all Krakauer pianos is the new Bridge Braced Back construction, claimed by Krakauer engineers to be the strongest and most durable in the world. Krakauer Bros. have supplied their pianos to a large number of great musicians of today and the past who have, without solicitation, given eloquent testimony and endorsement to the worth and quality of the Krakauer piano. There are over 1,000 Krakauer pianos in the Public Schools of New York City alone. The factory was a modern, light five story corner building located at 115 East 138th Street, New York City (SOURCE: http://www.bluebookofpianos.com/agesk.htm)
Now perhaps I should do a search for "giant four leaf clover floating balls postcard" to see what shows up. Nah. Better to get back to work.

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